Torpedo-shell protector.



1o being designed to provide a protectorapplied extend from end.4 to end of the cylinder an are slightlyl rounded at a2, as shown, which loweringthe torpedo to position for firing.

f 5o understood -that the guides or protectors may ,UNrrEpv Srrrrns' PATENT OFFICE.' 'l

JOSEPH` HATFIELDY, OF OORNING, OHIO.

SPEGI-FGATION forming part of Letters Patent N Q. 710,323, dated. September 30, 1902.

I lApplication filed February 8, 1902. Serial llo. 92,837. (Nogmodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I', JOSEPH M. I-IATFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corning, in the county of Perry and State of Ohio,

5 .have made certain new and'useful Improvements in Torpedo-Shell Protectors, of'which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in devices v for use in connection with oil-well torpedoes,

to the said shell and to operate as a guide therefor in passing the shell through the casing of the well in lowering the torpedo into l the well, whereby to Vavoid the `'friction and r 5 jai-s incident to such operation; and the invention consists in certain novel const-rucy "tions and combinations of parts, as wi1l\be hereinafter described and claimed.

. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of 26 a torpedo-shell provided with my improvements/and adapted to be inserted in a well- ,casing, such casing being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of -one of the protecting devices, and Fig. 3 is a cross-secg5 tional View on about line 3 3 of Fig. l. y

The guard or protector A is made of soft rubber and consists of a short tubular or cylindrical body A', which is adapted to be expanded over the shell and fit the latter tightly, 3o so it will be retained in place upon the shell in lowering the torpedo through the casing to the desired point. Upon its outer side the cylinder A' is provided with a series of outwardly-projecting ianges or -ribs ,A2which2 avoids any square edges at the ends of the ribs and facilitates the passage of dthe device through the casing. I provide two of these- 4o guides on the' torpedo-shell B, one at the top and one at the/ bottom, to steady the shell and guide it in its movements in the casing and keep the shell from coming in contact or rubbing/against the walls of the casing in It will be understood that in practice the shells are ordinarily` made of tin and vary in size to suit. the number of quarts of nitro- ,u glycerin usedin a shot, and it will also be also be made in diierent-sizestosuit th ordinary sizes of l shell.

TORPEDO-SHELL PRTECTOR.l l

In use theshells are lowered through` the casing by a cord and in the downward movement rub against the casing, producing a friction and sometimes causing the glycerin to explode, destroying the casing and frequently resulting in considera-bleloss of life.

The improved guides avoid this friction, loss Vof iife, and injury to the walls by cushioning the shell in the manner described, such cushioning resulting from the cylindrical soft-,rubber guards, and the cushioning elect being greatly increased by means of the ribs or lugs'A2, before described.

The torpedo-shells are generally from four to Iive inches in diameter and from four to f ive feet in, length, and the guides may be made in dierent sizes or may be tmade sufficiently elastic to be. sprung into place on the dierent sizes of shell.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to-secure by Letters Patent, is-.-

1. An oil-well-torpedo shell provided at its opposite ends with a guard or guide composed of soft rubber and consisting of the cylindrical body expanded over the shell'and the ribs or lugs extending longitudinallyon the outer side of the cylindrical body from end to end thereof and slightly rounded at their ends, substantially set forth.

2. A guide or guard for an oil-well-torpedo shell consis'tingof the cylindrical body, and

as and for the purposes the ribs or lugs projecting from the outer side thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. A guide or guard for torpedo-shells, consisting .of a `soft-rubber cylinderto be lexpanded over the shell'and longitudinal ribs or lugs on the outer side of the said cylinder,

substantially as set forth.

4. An 0i1we11torpedoshe11 provided with.

the spaced-apart cushioning guides or guards composed of the cylindrical bodies expanded over the shell and the ribs or flanges on the outer side of` said cylindrical bodies, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH M. HATFILD.- l'

Witnesses:

T. M. POTTER, C. E. FISHER. 

